Chinese soldiers?

[Dullknife]

Did Chinese men serve in the Union or Confederate armies?

 

[Manassas 1861]

https://werehistory.org/veterans-to-remember/

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

A couple did https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1112&context=gcjcwe here's an article covering their role in society during the Civil War

 

[RedRover]

Technically not "Chinese" but from modern Thailand, the original "Siamese Twins," Chang and Eng Bunker, resident in North Carolina, had sons who served in the Confederate Army.

Chang's son Christopher W. Bunker served with the 37th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, and as a prisoner at Camp Chase...

Eng's Son, Stephen Decatur Bunker, served with his cousin in the 37th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, and was severely wounded at Winchester in September, 1864, surrendering at the close of the war...

Sergeant Robert Watson of Company K, 7th Florida Volunteers, (The "Key West Avengers") mentions Chinese among the men of that company (principally recruited from coastal fishermen):

"Truly this is a cosmopolitan company, it is composed of Yankees, Crackers, Conchs, Englishmen, Spaniards, Germans, Frenchmen, Italians, Poles, Irishmen, Swedes, Chinese, Portuguese, Brazilians, one rock scorpion [native of Gibraltar] Crusoe; but all are good southern men. There are also Scotchmen, Welshmen, and some half Indians, surely this is the greatest mixture of nations for a small company that I ever heard of."

Watson was himself a native of the British West Indies (Bahamas).

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

Corporal Joseph Pierce, 14th Connecticut Infantry

 

[Sheltowee]

Check out this book- "Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War".

Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War: Carol A. (Editor) Shively: 9159922703597: Amazon.com: Books

Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War [Carol A. (Editor) Shively] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War

www.amazon.com

 

[bayonet]

Check out this book- "Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War".

Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War: Carol A. (Editor) Shively: 9159922703597: Amazon.com: Books

Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War [Carol A. (Editor) Shively] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War

www.amazon.com

Not for over $52 I won't. But interesting that it might claim a Filipino or 2 might of been fighting in the ACW. Or is the title wrong?

 

[bayonet]

View attachment 517168
Corporal Joseph Pierce, 14th Connecticut Infantry

I believe his story is he was adopted by a Seaman that brought him back from China and they both enlisted in the 14th Conn.

 

[Sheltowee]

Not for over $52 I won't. But interesting that it might claim a Filipino or 2 might have been fighting in the ACW. Or is the title wrong?

Suspect a lot of focus on Hawaiian servicemen. 100+ documented served on both sides.

Of course, the majority were white residents. But a few Polynesian, as well.

 

[HatEnjoyer]

There were even a handful of Chinese fighting with Southern Zouave Regiments such as the Louisiana Avegno Zouaves.

"…I stepped ashore at the wharf at Mandeville, and cast my eyes upon as cosmopolitan a body of soldiers as there existed upon the face of God's earth. There were Frenchmen, Spaniards, Mexicans, Dagoes, Germans, Chinese, Irishmen, and, in fact, persons of every clime known to geographers or travellers of that day." - John McGrath, 1903